Spoon

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a spoon for the marketing of material contained therein, the bowl thereof being incompletely enclosed by a partial wall member, said bowl being fully closed by a detachable cover-piece removably affixed to the bowl.

United States Patent Ushkow et a]. 1 May 16, 1972 [54] SPOON 1,708,456 4/1929 Tunick ..30/326 [72] Inventors: Meyer Ushkow; David Elliot Ushkow, both ggif f i of 75 04 196th Place Rushing, N'Y- 1 1366 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1 FiledI 22, 1969 381,067 9/1923 Germany ..30/340 [21] Appl. No.: 852,287 I Primary Exammer-Theron E. Condon Related US. Application Data Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 793,522, Jan. 23,

1969, abandoned.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hyman ..287/l26 X Moret "287/126 X Anomey-Blum, Moscovity, Friedman & Kaplan [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention provides a spoon for the marketing of material contained therein, the bowl thereof being incompletely enclosed by a partial wall member, said bowl being fully closed by a detachable cover-piece removably affixed to the bowl.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAYIS 1972 3,662,463

INVIiN'I'ORfi ME YER USHKOW HY DAV/D E. USHKOW SPOON This is a continuation-in-part application of our co-pending application, Ser. No. 793,522, filed Jan. 23, 1969 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates especially to spoons adapted for the marketing of measured amounts of material contained therein. More particularly, it is directed to spoons which are adapted for containing accurately measured amounts of materials, as for example, liquid medication; the complete enclosure of the contents of the spoon, as well as the sterilization thereof, if desired; and which are capable of storage and vending until ready for use.

For instance with respect to liquid medications, it is known that many drugs are dispensed in a variety of solid forms such as pills, tablets, or capsules, etc. However, there are many persons, for example, quite often children and many of the aged who are unable to swallow pills, tablets or capsules. For such persons medication is preferably administered in liquid form. In such cases, a bottle containing 1 or more fluid ounces of the medication is purchased and closed out, by the spoonful, as prescribed. However, it is to be borne in mind that a physician considers a teaspoon to be Scc, counting 30cc to the ounce, but there is no volumetric standard for a household spoon.

Indeed, the volume of a household teaspoon varies from 4cc to 7cc. Where precisely measured amounts of the liquid medication are critical, the inability to administer precise amounts of the prescribed dose many have disturbing and/or serious consequences.

Although it was long ago suggested to provide a spoonlike container filled with medication in dosage quantity, there has been no spoonlike structure on the market containing a dose (spoonful) of liquid medication which is also closed, sealed (and if desired) sterilized, adapted for storage (from time of manufacture until ready for use), and capable of being opened for use with but little likelihood of spillage when made ready for use.

Accordingly, there has long existed an unfilled want for a structure which makes it possible to provide for marketing a spoon filled with an accurately measured amount of material which is enclosed and sealed, and which may be opened for use with confidence that there is but little likelihood of spillage when opened.

As set forth above, this invention relates to spoons. More particularly, it is directed to a spoon which can be filled with an accurately measured amount of material, enclosed and sealed against contamination, including sterilization if desired, and which may be opened for use with but little likelihood of spillage.

The principal object of this invention, accordingly is to provide a spoon having a bowl which can be sealingly closed by a removable coverpiece which accomplishes such desideratum whereby an accurately measured amount of material can be put up for marketing by the filler of the spoon stored until ready for use, and which may be opened for use with but little likelihood of spillage, especially in the case of such spoons when handled by unsteady hands.

Further objects of the invention and the advantages thereof will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompaning drawing, wherein:

FIG.1. is a view in perspective of a spoon in accordance with the invention.

FIG.2 is a vertical section of thespoon illustrated in FIG.] taken on line 2-2 thereof.

FIG.3 is a sectional view taken of the line 3-3 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.2.

FIGA is a top plan view of a modification of the structure illustrated in FIG], and its associated views.

FIG.5 is a vertical section of the portion of the structure illustrated in F 10.4 taken on the line 5-5 thereof.

FIG.6 is a vertical section of a portion of the embodiment akin to that illustrated in FIGA and 5 in which the modification resides in the interlocking structure of the cover piece and the bowl.

In FIGSJ and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the bowl of a spoon, and the numeral 12 a member partially walling inn the bowl which thereby forms in combination with the bowl a cove 14.

The handle is designated generally by the numeral 16. The handle, which may be integral with the bowl, is attached thereto below the periphery 18 thereof.

However, it is advantageous, if desired, to provide a handle which is constituted of two sections, one section thereof (which may be regarded as the handle proper) being designated by the numeral 20 and used for the manipulation of the bowl, for stirring, etc., as well as for the handling and manipulation of a plurality of bowls. Member 20, accordingly, is adapted for interengagement with handle-receiving stub or element 22. Stub 22 is provided with a suitably configured slot 24 which is adapted to receive and detachably engage a tongue 26 extending from the stub-mating end of 20. Tongue 26 and slot 24 are provided with a matingly matched rib and channel to prevent lateral movement. The rib and channel may be situated in either of the elements, as for example, rib 27 and channel 29 (FIG.3) or vice versa.

When filled with its contents, the spoon may be sealingly enclosed with a piece of suitable plastic sheet (preferably transparent) 28, the peripheral area 32 of which is provided with a suitable adhesive. For the convenience in the removal or stripping of the cover piece 28 from the bowl, the cover-piece may be grasped at the edge 34. It will be apparent that the presence of the cove structure 14 provides a markedly useful cavity which retains the contents of the bowl and prevents spillage thereof when the cover-piece 28 is stripped from the bowl.

A modified form of this invention is that shown in FIGS.4 and 5. This modification provides for a snap-fit interengagement of the cover-piece and the bowl. In the embodiment, the numeral 40 designates the bowl; 42 the wall partially covering the bowl and 44 the cove akin to 14.

The handle generally is designated by the numeral 46; and the periphery of the bowl designated by the numeral 48. Here also, the handle may be constituted of two parts, to wit, a handle proper designated by 50 which is adapted for interengagement by a stub 52, such interengagement being achieved by a suitable slot 54 which interfittingly receives the mating tongue 56. Tongue 56 and slot 54 are provided with interfitting rib and channel akin to that of 27 and 29 illustrated in FIG.3.

In this embodiment, the cover-piece 58 (also preferably transparent) is removably affixed to the periphery of the bowl by a complementary bead and groove structure, illustratively shown by the circumferential bead 62 and the mating groove 64. The edge 66 provides means for being grasped so that the cover-piece may be stripped from the bowl.

At present, the preferred embodiment is the one depicted in FIGS.4 and 5.

As illustrated in FIG.6, the structureis akin to that of FIG.4 and 5, differeing therefrom in that the positions of the bead and groove for interengagement of the cover-piece and the bowl are the reverse of those in FIGSA and 5. In this embodiment the periphery of the bowl is provided with a channel 70 and the cover-piece with a mating bead 72.

It is evident from the foregoing that the material contained in the spoon of the invention can be completely or fully covered and protected against the intrusion of airborne or accidentally dropped contaminants; and the spillage of the contents is prevented by the cove-structure which is constituted of the bowl and partial wall member. As has been set forth above, the contents can be sterilized after closure by the removable cover-piece.

The provision of a separable handle allows for the packaging of a quantity of filled bowls with a single detachable handle therefor. In this way the package can be of smaller size than one which would contain the same number of fully-handled spoons, thus providing for economies in the costs of the spoons and the packaging thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A spoon construction comprising a bowl member dimensioned to receive accurately measured amount of liquid and formed with an upstanding peripheral rim; a cover member dimensioned to encompass said bowl member rim for retaining said liquid within said bowl member; means for removably securing said cover member to said bowl member rim; an elongated handle member, said bowl member being formed with a handle-receiving portion projecting laterally from a point on said bowl member below said rim; and handle interengagement means on said bowl member handle-receiving portion and said handle member for the releasable engagement of said bowl member and handle member, said bowl member being formed with a top wall portion partially enclosing a portion of the region defined by said upstanding peripheral rim and formed integral therewith to define a cove within said bowl member for retaining said liquid therein.

2. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said top wall portion and said handle-receiving portion of said bowl member are both positioned in substantial alignment on said bowl member.

3. A spoon construction as recited in claim I, wherein said means for removably connecting said cover member and said bowl member includes an adhesive.

4. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for removably connecting said cover member and said bowl member includes snap-fit inter-engagement means on said bowl member rim and said cover member, a first portion of said inter-engagement means being disposed on one of said bowl member and cover member and adapted for penetration into and engagement by a second receiving portion of said inter-engagement means disposed on the other of said bowl member and cover member.

5. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle inter-engagement means includes a laterally extending tongue formed with a projecting bead on one of said bowl member handle-receiving portion and said handle member, the other of said bowl member handle-receiving portion and said handle member being formed with a mating laterally extending slot dimensioned to snugly receive said tongue and formed with at least one channel on the surface thereof for receiving said tongue bead.

6. A spoon construction comprising a spoon member having a bowl portion dimensioned for at least partial receipt in a user's mouth and to receive an accurately measured amount of liquid, said bowl portion being formed with an upstanding peripheral rim; a cover member dimensioned to encompass said bowl portion rim for retaining said liquid within said bowl portion; and snap-fit inter-engagement means on said bowl portion rim and said cover member, a first portion of said inter-engagement means being disposed on one of said bowl portion and cover member and adapted for penetration into and engagement by a second receiving portion of said interengagement means disposed on the other of said bowl portion and cover member; an elongated handle member, said spoon member being formed with a handle receiving portion projecting laterally from a point on said spoon member below said rim; and handle inter-engagement means on said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member for the releasable engagement of said spoon member and handle member, said handle inter-engagement means including a laterally extending tongue formed with a longitudinally extending projecting bead on one of said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member, the other of said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member being formed with a mating laterally extending slot dimensioned to snugly receive said tongue and formed with a longitudinally extending channel on the surface thereof for receiving said tongue bead.

7. A spoon construction as recited in claim 6, wherein said snap-fit inter-engagement means includes a perimetric bead in said bowl portion rim and a correspondingly positioned groove in said cover member for snap-fit inter-engagement with said bead.

8. A spoon constructron as recrted 1n clarm 6, wherern sard snap-fit inter-engagement means includes a perimetric groove formed in said bowl portion rim, said cover member being formed with a correspondingly dimensioned bead for snap-fit inter-engagement with said groove. 

1. A spoon construction comprising a bowl member dimensioned to receive accurately measured amount of liquid and formed with an upstanding peripheral rim; a cover member dimensioned to encompass said bowl member rim for retaining said liquid within said bowl member; means for removably securing said cover member to said bowl member rim; an elongated handle member, said bowl member being formed with a handle-receiving portion projecting laterally from a point on said bowl member below said rim; and handle inter-engagement means on said bowl member handlereceiving portion and said handle member for the releasable engagement of said bowl member and handle member, said bowl member being formed with a top wall portion partially enclosing a portion of the region defined by said upstanding peripheral rim and formed integral therewith to define a cove within said bowl member for retaining said liquid therein.
 2. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said top wall portion and said handle-receiving portion of said bowl member are both positioned in substantial alignment on said bowl member.
 3. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for removably connecting said cover member and said bowl member includes an adhesive.
 4. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for removably connecting said cover member and said bowl member includes snap-fit inter-engagement means on said bowl member rim and said cover member, a first portion of said inter-engagement means being disposed on one of said bowl member and cover member and adapted for penetration into and engagement by a second receiving portion of said inter-engagement means disposed on the other of said bowl member and cover member.
 5. A spoon construction as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle inter-engagement means includes a laterally extending tongue formed with a projecting bead on one of said bowl member handle-receiving portion and said handle member, the other of said bowl member handle-receiving portion and said handle member being formed with a mating laterally extending slot dimensioned to snugly receive said tongue and formed with at least one channel on the surface thereof for receiving said tongue bead.
 6. A spoon construction comprising a spoon member having a bowl portion dimensioned for at least partial receipt in a user''s mouth and to receive an accurately measured amount of liquid, said bowl portion being formed with an upstanding peripheral rim; a cover member dimensioned to encompass said bowl portion rim for retaining said liquid within said bowl portion; and snap-fit inter-engagement means on said bowl portion rim and said cover member, a first portion of said inter-engagement means being disposed on one of said bowl portion and cover member and adapted for penetration into and engagement by a second receiving portion of said inter-engagement means disposed on the other of said bowl portion And cover member; an elongated handle member, said spoon member being formed with a handle receiving portion projecting laterally from a point on said spoon member below said rim; and handle inter-engagement means on said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member for the releasable engagement of said spoon member and handle member, said handle inter-engagement means including a laterally extending tongue formed with a longitudinally extending projecting bead on one of said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member, the other of said spoon member handle receiving portion and said handle member being formed with a mating laterally extending slot dimensioned to snugly receive said tongue and formed with a longitudinally extending channel on the surface thereof for receiving said tongue bead.
 7. A spoon construction as recited in claim 6, wherein said snap-fit inter-engagement means includes a perimetric bead in said bowl portion rim and a correspondingly positioned groove in said cover member for snap-fit inter-engagement with said bead.
 8. A spoon construction as recited in claim 6, wherein said snap-fit inter-engagement means includes a perimetric groove formed in said bowl portion rim, said cover member being formed with a correspondingly dimensioned bead for snap-fit inter-engagement with said groove. 